Cheers! Frozen Drink + Floater question

[BoozinCroozin]

I know the floater is considered a 2nd drink, you have to wait 5-minutes for it part of Cheers, etc. My question is if I order a frozen drink, can I pay for the floater and not wait 5-minutes? My guess is I can because I am paying for it, but wanted to check. I also suspect that once you get in good with a bartender, they got you covered anyway.

[firefly333]

What's a floater?

[tallnthensome]

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

What's a floater?

A shot on top of your frozen drink. 

[ryanpatricksmom]

I've never been able to......and believe me, I've tried on a lot of ships, LOL!

 

[Laurab23]

Order your floater first and let it sit there 5 minutes then order your frozen drink.

 

Laura

[JeanieTheMom]

One of my favorite drinks is the Caribbean Colada from the Red Frog. I've never had Cheers before, but got a great deal on one of my next cruises, so I took it.  

My plan was to get my drink, and just pay for the floater separate from the Cheers. Am I understanding correctly that I can't do this?

If not, (or maybe instead of my plan) I like the idea from Laurab32 about ordering the floater and just letting it set there.

[villagenut]

It’s been my experience that you can’t “just pay” when you have cheers.  Every card swipe goes towards cheers so you will have to wait between orders.

[Anyislandwilldo]

1 hour ago, JeanieTheMom said:

One of my favorite drinks is the Caribbean Colada from the Red Frog. I've never had Cheers before, but got a great deal on one of my next cruises, so I took it.  

My plan was to get my drink, and just pay for the floater separate from the Cheers. Am I understanding correctly that I can't do this?

If not, (or maybe instead of my plan) I like the idea from Laurab32 about ordering the floater and just letting it set there.

I will have to check out the Caribbean Coloda!  Sounds tasty!

[Quagmire789]

From Carnival's website:

 

> Guests may purchase a round of drinks for themselves and friends. One drink will count towards the CHEERS! program and the remaining drinks will be charged to a guest’s Sail and Sign® account

 

https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=2633

[crazy4themouse]

50 minutes ago, Anyislandwilldo said:

I will have to check out the Caribbean Coloda!  Sounds tasty!

 

That's our favorite -- They're amazing! Like a pina colada but with banana as well. SO good. 🥰

 

[BoozinCroozin]

2 hours ago, Quagmire789 said:

From Carnival's website:

 

> Guests may purchase a round of drinks for themselves and friends. One drink will count towards the CHEERS! program and the remaining drinks will be charged to a guest’s Sail and Sign® account

 

https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=2633

That was what I was referring to as being confusing. I order the frozen drink on Cheers, then the other drink (the floater) on my S&S card as a payment. So far, it is not clear. Some say you can some say you can't. 

[Wanna_Cruize]

You can, or the server can wait 5 minutes to ring the floater in against cheers. 

[naxer]

As others have said, technically, no.  But when you get in with your bartender, they could probably just do the pour you'd like so that you don't have to order a floater.  By the end of embarkation day, the next afternoon at the latest, I'm shown a lot of generosity.  

[ryanpatricksmom]

The problem with the floater is that it's technically part of the first drink.  You can order and pay for a drink with a floater outside of cheers, you just can't order a floater and add it to a drink using cheers.  I know, it's ridiculous, but I promise that they won't let you do it.  It drives me crazy too because I typically am not a fan of high calorie cocktails, but I do like the occasional frozen drink.....but for all of those calories, I want a bit of a buzz, lol!  As others have mentioned, order the liquor of your choosing straight up, and ask to have the cocktail made 5 minutes later.  The straight liquor will last you for 2 drinks if you aren't going to move from that spot right away. I would also prefer to be able to order doubles and have 2 drinks billed against my cheers, but they don't let you do that either.🙄

[kdr69]

4 hours ago, Quagmire789 said:

From Carnival's website:

 

> Guests may purchase a round of drinks for themselves and friends. One drink will count towards the CHEERS! program and the remaining drinks will be charged to a guest’s Sail and Sign® account

 

https://www.carnival.com/help?topicid=2633

This relates to buying a round for friends and the question was about a drink for themselves outside the Cheers program which causes me no end of confusion since your only limited to 15 drinks regardless of whether you have Cheers or not and the question i have is how do they know the drinks are for friends and not you?  I know after 15 drinks on Cheers your done for the day so i cant see it being 15 drinks on Cheers and 15 drinks paid.  That would be 30 drinks total and be against the regular alcohol policy of 15 drinks and the Cheers policy of 15 drinks.  

 

"Guests will be limited to purchasing a maximum of 15 alcoholic beverages, per person, per day while on board."

[JeanieTheMom]

6 hours ago, ryanpatricksmom said:

The problem with the floater is that it's technically part of the first drink.  You can order and pay for a drink with a floater outside of cheers, you just can't order a floater and add it to a drink using cheers.  I know, it's ridiculous, but I promise that they won't let you do it.  It drives me crazy too because I typically am not a fan of high calorie cocktails, but I do like the occasional frozen drink.....but for all of those calories, I want a bit of a buzz, lol!  As others have mentioned, order the liquor of your choosing straight up, and ask to have the cocktail made 5 minutes later.  The straight liquor will last you for 2 drinks if you aren't going to move from that spot right away. I would also prefer to be able to order doubles and have 2 drinks billed against my cheers, but they don't let you do that either.🙄

I feel the same way about the calories to buzz ratio. 😀 

This info will help me. Thanks!

[mondello]

7 hours ago, kdr69 said:

This relates to buying a round for friends and the question was about a drink for themselves outside the Cheers program which causes me no end of confusion since your only limited to 15 drinks regardless of whether you have Cheers or not and the question i have is how do they know the drinks are for friends and not you?  I know after 15 drinks on Cheers your done for the day so i cant see it being 15 drinks on Cheers and 15 drinks paid.  That would be 30 drinks total and be against the regular alcohol policy of 15 drinks and the Cheers policy of 15 drinks.  

 

"Guests will be limited to purchasing a maximum of 15 alcoholic beverages, per person, per day while on board."

I know Cheers has a 15 drink limit per day; however, I have never heard of a limit for those that choose to purchase drinks without purchasing Cheers. Some guests could easily drink 4 or more buckets of beer each day, especially if sharing with others. Carnival will make those sales.

[Wanna_Cruize]

If you have Cheers, you just need to pay attention to your drink count, it's printed on the receipt. Once you are 1-2 drinks away if you still want to drink more, start paying for the drinks, or order a bucket of beers, etc. Don't charging them to Cheers. Once you hit the 15th drink, they will NOT sell you anymore, no matter how they are charged. 

[SNJCruisers]

Don't order a floater.  It is a smaller amount of liquor, usually rum added to a variety of frozen drinks.  If you have Cheers, order your favorite rum neat.  Pick out the best rum they have.  Ordering it neat will give you more quantity than a floater would.  Order your frozen drink five minutes later, take a sip and then add your rum to your drink.  This could be your daytime routine.  

At nighttime, just go to the Alchemy Bar, where one drink from the mixologist will be better than anything you get frozen with an extra shot added, and it will only cost you one of your 15 daily allotment instead of two.

Edited July 5, 2021 by SNJCruisers

[kdr69]

6 hours ago, mondello said:

I know Cheers has a 15 drink limit per day; however, I have never heard of a limit for those that choose to purchase drinks without purchasing Cheers. Some guests could easily drink 4 or more buckets of beer each day, especially if sharing with others. Carnival will make those sales.

Im just quoting their own Drinking while on board policy which i again post below. 

 

"Guests will be limited to purchasing a maximum of 15 alcoholic beverages, per person, per day while on board."

 

Not everyone reads all the FAQ's or fine print i get that.  I also get that they do not enforce a whole ton of things that are printed on the Website just from personal experience.  

[mondello]

19 minutes ago, kdr69 said:

Im just quoting their own Drinking while on board policy which i again post below. 

 

"Guests will be limited to purchasing a maximum of 15 alcoholic beverages, per person, per day while on board."

 

Not everyone reads all the FAQ's or fine print i get that.  I also get that they do not enforce a whole ton of things that are printed on the Website just from personal experience.  

Is that referring to the Cheers limit or just drinks in general? I was only aware of the limit for Cheers. I've never approached 15 drinks in a day but I know some can put away beers like water.

[kdr69]

11 minutes ago, mondello said:

Is that referring to the Cheers limit or just drinks in general? I was only aware of the limit for Cheers. I've never approached 15 drinks in a day but I know some can put away beers like water.

its referring to just drinks in general under FAQ's its the first statement under Eating and Drinks.  Cheers is just a package deal to my understanding and has the same alcoholic drink limit just at a discounted price that includes non alcoholic items within that pricing. 

 

What is Carnival's Liquor & Beverage Policy?

 

Drinking Alcohol On Board

The minimum age for the purchase and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages in the bars, lounges and gift shops is 21 years of age. Carnival reserves the right to request ID prior to the purchase of alcohol and refuse the sale of alcohol to anyone. Guests will be limited to purchasing a maximum of 15 alcoholic beverages, per person, per day while on board.

 

Bringing Liquor and Beverages On Board - Embarkation

Guests are prohibited from bringing water, sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages that are packaged in glass or plastic bottles.

 

On embarkation day, a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, energy drinks, juice, and milk), packaged in cans or cartons, may be brought on board and must be in the guest's carry-on luggage. A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12 ounces each or less, per person.

 

Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board with the following exception - at the beginning of the cruise during embarkation day only, guests (21 years of age and older) may bring one 750 ml bottle of sealed/unopened wine or champagne, per person, in their carry-on luggage. Outside this exception, all liquor, beer, other forms of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited in both carry-on and checked luggage and such items will be confiscated and discarded and no compensation will be provided. Guests sailing with us on back-to-back cruises are entitled to bring the same quantity as stated in this policy, per cruise. The additional quantities will be stored for safekeeping at the start of the first cruise and will be given to the guest as each following cruise begins.

 

[mondello]

Thanks for the pointer, I was unaware of this limit. Glad I don't need to get hammered to have fun.

[Quagmire789]

On 7/4/2021 at 1:19 PM, kdr69 said:

This relates to buying a round for friends and the question was about a drink for themselves outside the Cheers program which causes me no end of confusion since your only limited to 15 drinks regardless of whether you have Cheers or not and the question i have is how do they know the drinks are for friends and not you?  I know after 15 drinks on Cheers your done for the day so i cant see it being 15 drinks on Cheers and 15 drinks paid.  That would be 30 drinks total and be against the regular alcohol policy of 15 drinks and the Cheers policy of 15 drinks.  

 

"Guests will be limited to purchasing a maximum of 15 alcoholic beverages, per person, per day while on board."

 

It says in the policy for themselves and friends.

[Quagmire789]

On 7/4/2021 at 11:46 AM, BoozinCroozin said:

That was what I was referring to as being confusing. I order the frozen drink on Cheers, then the other drink (the floater) on my S&S card as a payment. So far, it is not clear. Some say you can some say you can't. 

 

Unfortunately not every bartender will know every policy, or is every policy clearly interpreted the same way by everyone.  Hopefully you'll get lucky and there won't be an issue and they will not make you wait the 5 minutes 🙂